Eagles claw past Falcons in AMICC flag football action
The Eagles earned a hard-fought, come-from-behind 26-21 victory over the Falcons during Jan. 31 NFL Flag Football action in the 14-17 division at the Anna Maria Island Community Center.
The Eagles never led in the game until the second-half 1:26 minute mark, when Anthony Mannino came up with a one-handed catch off a Jeret Rojas pass just past midfield and then ran it in for the go-ahead touchdown and a 26-21 victory.
Early in the game, it appeared it would be a Falcons blowout. On the first play, Lane Burnett got around the corner on a jet sweep and outran the defense down the sideline. Burnett would have scored, but he dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line.
It didn’t matter. Quarterback Andrew Zink connected with Leo Rose on a two-yard touchdown pass and the extra-point pass for a 7-0 Falcon lead.
The teams traded possessions until the 7:45 minute mark, when Burnett again got around the corner on a jet sweep. This time he held on to complete a 45-yard touchdown run. Zink hit Parsons with the extra-point pass for a 14-0 Falcons lead.
The Eagles offense gained some traction on its next possession as Michael Latimer gained 11 yards on a sweep followed by a 10-yard run by Mannino for their first down on the day.
The Eagles next attempted a bit of trickery — a double pass — but Mannino’s throw fell incomplete and Rojas’ pass attempt was intercepted by Cooper Hardy to end the drive.
The Eagles finally got on the scoreboard with 4:35 left in the half when Rojas hit Dylan Doyle near midfield for a first down, but a missed flag pull resulted in Doyle racing down the sideline to complete a 45-yard touchdown. Rojas then hit Latimer for the extra point pass to make the score 14-7 Falcons.
The Eagles defense stepped up again as Mannino intercepted Zink’s second-down pass attempt, giving the Eagles a short field and they took the advantage.
Starting from just behind the first down line near midfield, Rojas hit Mannino for 7 yards and another first down. Latimer then gained 9 yards on a sweep before Mannino ran it in for a touchdown from 9 yards to pull to within 14-13, which is how the half ended.
The Eagles got the ball to start the second half, but the Falcons held them to a three-and-out and took over on offense. Burnett gained 5 yards on first down and then tried another double pass from Zink to Rose and back to Zink, but it was stopped after a 3-yard gain.
On third down, Zink hit Jake Parsons for first down just past midfield, but a missed flag pull sent Parsons down the sideline to complete a 35-yard touchdown play. Zink then hit Rose for the extra point and a 21-13 Falcons lead.
The Eagles got the ball back and marched down the field, scoring on a 14-yard flea-flicker from Rojas to Latimer. Rojas then hit Latimer for the extra point to pull to within 21-20 with just over 7 minutes to play.
The Falcons looked to extend their lead on the next possession as they easily marched down the field but, on third and goal, Zink fumbled, and it was the Eagles ball.
The Eagles got a 7-yard pass play to Dylan Doyle on first down and an 8-yard pass play to Ryan Doyle on second down, making it third down and short, but Chelsea Brashier came up with a big sack on Rojas to give the ball back to the Falcons with 4:30 left to play.
The Falcons put together a six-play drive that got them deep into Eagles territory, but the Eagles defense held, giving them the ball back to set up Mannino’s spectacular, one-handed touchdown reception for the Eagles first of the day.
The Falcons got the ball back and Zink connected with Rose on four consecutive plays to advance the ball deep into Eagles territory, but Zink’s third-down pass attempt was too high for Burnett and time ran out.
Rojas finished the day with 13 completions for 137 yards and three touchdown passes, while Mannino added three runs for 21 yards and a touchdown and two receptions for 54 yards and one touchdown. Latimer rushed for 29 yards, caught three passes for 27 yards, including a touchdown, while also chipping in with two extra points. Dylan Doyle rounded out the Eagle scoring with three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
Zink led the Falcons in the loss with 13 completions for 146 yards, including a pair of touchdown passes and one interception. Rose finished with eight catches for 61 yards, including a touchdown and two extra points. Burnett ran 11 times for 137 yards and one touchdown, while Parsons finished with three catches for 48 yards, a touchdown and an extra point.
Look online at www.islander.org for game schedules. And, please, share your sports photos with us. Email photos with a description and names to news@islander.org.
Horseshoe news
Two teams emerged from pool play during Jan. 28 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits and to battle for the day’s bragging rights.
The team of Bob Palmer and Art Kingstad rolled past Bob Rowley and Byron Wagner 24-12 in the finals to earn a trip to the winner’s circle.
Two teams advanced to the knockout round in Jan. 31 action. The team of Bob Lee and Rod Bussey obliterated Bob Mason and Dennis Vanegas by a 22-1 score to top the day.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m.
Key Royale golf news
The Key Royal Club women played a nine-hole, individual-low-net golf match Jan. 27 in four flights.
Tootie Wagner, Mary Lou Dreier and Joy Kaiser all carded even-par 32s to finish tied for first place in Flight A.
Flight B saw Carol Duncan fire a 4-under-par 28 to grab first place, three shots ahead of Sue Wheeler and Meredith Slavin, who tied for second place at 1-under-par 31.
Terry Westby and Jan Turner both carded 3-under-par 29s to finish in a tie for first place in Flight C, while Valerie Tilelli and Susan van Orsdel tied for first in Flight D at 4-over-par 36.
Helen Pollock and Marty Clark each had a birdie on their round, while Pollock, Billie Jean Gordon and Judy Christensen had chipins.
AMICC NFL Youth Flag Football schedules
5-7 Division
Feb. 6 6 p.m. Packers vs. Titans
Feb. 9 6 p.m. Titans vs. Colts
8-10 Division
Feb. 5 6 p.m. Tyler’s Ice Cream vs. Buccaneers
Feb. 6 6 p.m. Bears vs. Seahawks
Feb. 6 7 p.m. Lions vs. Dolphins
Feb. 9 6 p.m. Bears vs. Chiefs
11-13 Division
Feb. 6 8 p.m. Buccaneers vs. Lions
Feb. 9 7 p.m. Dolphins vs. Seahawks
Feb. 9 8 p.m. Buccaneers vs. Saints
14-17 Division
Feb. 3 6 p.m. Cardinals vs. Ravens
Feb. 3 7 p.m. Falcons vs. Buccaneers
Feb. 3 8 p.m. Eagles vs. Redskins
Feb. 10 6 p.m. Eagles vs. Cardinals
Feb. 10 7 p.m. Buccaneers vs. Ravens
Feb. 10 8 p.m. Redskins vs. Falcons
AMICC NFL Youth Flag Football schedules
5-7 Division
Feb. 6 6 p.m. Packers vs. Titans
Feb. 9 6 p.m. Titans vs. Colts
8-10 Division
Feb. 5 6 p.m. Tyler’s Ice Cream vs. Buccaneers
Feb. 6 6 p.m. Bears vs. Seahawks
Feb. 6 7 p.m. Lions vs. Dolphins
Feb. 9 6 p.m. Bears vs. Chiefs
11-13 Division
Feb. 6 8 p.m. Buccaneers vs. Lions
Feb. 9 7 p.m. Dolphins vs. Seahawks
Feb. 9 8 p.m. Buccaneers vs. Saints
14-17 Division
Feb. 3 6 p.m. Cardinals vs. Ravens
Feb. 3 7 p.m. Falcons vs. Buccaneers
Feb. 3 8 p.m. Eagles vs. Redskins
Feb. 10 6 p.m. Eagles vs. Cardinals
Feb. 10 7 p.m. Buccaneers vs. Ravens
Feb. 10 8 p.m. Redskins vs. Falcons